Shanghai: Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar urged young people to ‘Get out and play sport’ at the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards on Wednesday, where Novak Djokovic, Genzebe Dibaba and Germany’s Fifa World Cup winners were the major winners.

Djokovic won the World Sportsman of the Year Award, while Ethiopian long-distance runner Dibaba was named the World Sportswoman of the Year.

Neither were present to collect their accolades at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, but Germany team manager Olivier Bierhoff picked up the team prize at the ceremony.

Tendulkar, meanwhile, appeared on stage to be inducted into the Laureus Academy. He said it was “a huge honour to be standing here” with fellow sporting luminaries and Academy members such as Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit, the former All Blacks rugby union captain Sean Fitzpatrick and Laureus chairman Edwin Moses, the sprint-hurdling legend.

The ‘Little Master’, who retired from cricket in 2013 after amassing a myriad of records, said: “[Much of] India’s population is below [the age of] 25. Something I’d like to encourage is for young people to engage themselves in athletic activity. Most of the guys [in India] exercise their thumbs playing games so I just want to say: “Get out and play sport.”

In a recorded statement, Djokovic said of his award, which was in recognition of his two grand slam successes and the fact that he regained the number one ranking: “This is probably the crown of my 2014 season that has been highlighted with winning Wimbledon, regaining number one in the world and becoming a father. It has probably been the best year so far in my life.

“This is the most prestigious sports award without a doubt.”

In a written statement, Dibaba, who was feted after breaking three world records in different events in two weeks, said: “I am excited to receive this award for myself, my family and my country, Ethiopia. This award has great value in sport and it will give me great encouragement.”

Other significant winners at the ceremony, which was hosted by British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, were retired Chinese tennis star Li Na, who won the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award.

This was only the second time this award had been presented by Laureus after swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, in 2013.

An emotional Schalk Burger, the South African rugby star, collected the Comeback of the Year Award after recovering from life-threatening meningitis to resume his career.

Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo was rewarded for finishing his debut season in an exceptional third place in the world standings after winning three grands prix with the Breakthrough of the Year Award.

The awards were attended by a host of sporting personalities such as France and Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, two-time Fifa World Cup winner Cafu, the former Brazil defender, and naturally several Chinese sporting icons.

These included the former Olympic gold medallist hurdler Liu Xiang, who performed a song on stage, and ex-basketball player Yao Ming, who was honoured twice.

The former Houston Rockets player, who is 7ft 6ins tall, was inducted into the Laureus Academy and then received the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award.